Carnation plant named `Longumo`

ABSTRACT

A new spray carnation variety having relatively small blooms of a generally orange yellow coloration grown in clusters on relatively short, straight, upright stems and produced profusely in recurrent blooming periods during the course of the blooming season, the plant itself having a vigorous, upright and rather rigid growing habit reaching a height averaging about 93 cm. at eight months with rather abundant foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new carnation variety originated as a natural mutation or sport ofthe carnation variety `Lonforem` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,444) discoveredin the course of our inspection of a field of the parent plant beinggrown for commercial purposes at La Londe, Les Maures, France. Thebright orange yellow color of the blossoms of this sport caused us toasexually reproduce the sport for test purposes and this was done at LaLonde by means of cuttings with results so satisfactory that we directedthat the resulting plants be grown through several successivegenerations by means of cuttings from the next preceding growth with theresult that the distinctive and novel characteristics of the originalsport held true from generation to generation and appeared to be firmlyfixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This variety of our new spray carnation is illustrated by theaccompanying photographic drawing which shows, in full color, the upperportion of a typical spray stem bearing buds at various stages ofopening together with flowers in several stages of maturity, the colorsshown being as nearly true to those specified herein as is reasonablypossible to obtain by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of our new carnation plant basedupon observations of greenhouse grown plants made at La Londe, LesMaures, France, in early 1986, the color designations being according toThe R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Sport.

Parentage: `Lonforem`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,444.

Classification:

Botanic.--Dianthus caryophyllus.

Commercial.--Spray carnation.

Form: A tall bush of erect spray shape having at least four stemsemitted from a main stem near the ground.

Height: About 93 cm., in average, at eight months.

Main stem:

Length.--Less than 15 cm. due to pinching.

Branching character: Alternate.

Growth: Vigorous, upright and rather rigid.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Rather abundant.

Number of leaves.--More than 120.

Size of leaf.--About 6.7 cm. long and 0.8 cm. wide at the seventh node.

Leaf shape.--Lineal with acute apex and curved margins.

Texture.--Leathery.

Color.--Upper side -- 191A. Under side -- 191A.

Leaflets.--None.

Ribs, Veins and Rachis.--Hardly noticeable.

THE BUD

Size: Medium.

Diameter.--About 1.3 cm.

Length.--About 2.7 cm.

Form: Generally cylindrical or oblong in shape.

Color of petals:

When sepals first divide.--Barium yellow.

When petals begin to unfurl.--Saffron yellow.

Sepals:

Number.--Five. The sepals are hooded over the bud before dividing andstand up as the flower petals unfurl.

Shape.--The sepals are joined together at the lower part and otherwiseare generally ovate with a somewhat scuminate tip.

Color.--Inside -- 145D. Outside -- 144C/137D.

Striae.--Longitudinal.

Calyx:

Shape.--Cylindrical and narrow.

Size.--Medium.

Aspect.--Smooth.

Splitting.--The calyx does not split.

Flower stem:

Length.--About 46.6 cm., in average.

Character.--Erect and rather thin.

Color.--191A.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Recurrent and profusely during the course of theblooming season with a tendency to five fewer blooms in the fall.

Size of bloom: Small.

Diameter.--Averaging about 5 cm.

Depth.--Averaging about 4.4 cm.

Borne: As a cluster with more than three flowers per stem.

Shape: High centered when the bloom first opens and dome shaped as thebloom matures.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--About 26, in average.

Arrangement.--Imbricated.

Form.--Fan shaped with serrated outer end edges.

Texture.--Soft.

Appearance.--Satiny.

Color.--Both inside and outside petals: Upper side: Body -- Generally19B with 10C and 12C toward the petal base and occasionally streakedwith 46B at the outer margins. Base -- Greenish yellow. Reverse side:10D and 12D.

Petaloids:

Number.--Less than four.

Size.--Smaller than the petals.

Color.--Same as the petals.

Flower stem:

Average length.--46.6 cm., cut at the tenth node.

Color.--191A.

Character.--Upright and with good strength.

Fragrance: Perceptibe.

Persistence: The flowers hang on and dry.

Disease resistance: Resistant to Fusarium oxysporum as observed I.N.R.A.Antibes, France.

Lasting quality:

As a cut flower.--At least 10 days in vase keeping.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--1 to 6.

Arrangement.--Around the ovary.

Anthers.--Size: Less than 4 mm. Color: White.

Filaments.--Average length: About 2 cm. Color: Whitish.

Pistils:

Number.--Two.

Styles.--Average length: About 2.9 cm. Color: Yellowish white.

Stigmas.--Color: Yellowish white and lightly pinkish.

Character of ovaries: Spherical and lightly ribbed.

This carnation variety differs from the parent `Lonforem` by having aclear orange yellow color of the flower petals. Otherwise, this newvariety retains the plant characteristics of the parent variety.

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of spray carnation,substantially as herein shown and described, characterized by thegenerally orange yellow overall coloration of the flower in full bloom,its profuse but recurrent flower production during the blooming season,and its vigorous, upright growth habit reaching a height of about 93 cm.with flower stems of about 46.6 cm. in length.